A New Prosperity for T.D. Jakes?

Why the famous televangelist may be tapping into the audience of Joel Osteen and Rick Warren.

In his new book, TV evangelist, megachurch pastor and best-selling author Bishop T.D. Jakes advises his readers to transform themselves and move into a new stage of life.

The book, "Reposition Yourself: Living Life Without Limits," also appears to be part of Jakes' own strategy of remaking himself as a self-help guru to reach a broader audience.

With a foreword by Dr. Phil, and more generic spiritual writing that takes the approach of a motivational life coach, Jakes follows in the mega-selling footsteps of fellow evangelist-motivator-pastor-authors Rick Warren and Joel Osteen.

"Osteen has created this model for people coming out of charismatic backgrounds who are reaching out and finding accessible a more upscale evangelical audience," said retired Auburn University history professor David Edwin Harrell, who has written numerous books about Pentecostalism. "They are reaching out to a more upscale, broader audience. I don't think there's any doubt Jakes is tapping into it."

The book grew out of a sermon series that Jakes, pastor of the 30,000-member Potter's House in Dallas, preached called "Positioning Yourself for Prosperity."

He decided to leave the word "prosperity" out of the book title, he said in a telephone interview.

"I didn't want people to misunderstand what it's about," Jakes said.

"What I am saying is more along the lines of economic empowerment, how important education is for our children."

He also addresses personal finance, such as paying down debt and avoiding predatory lending. But it's more about acquiring spiritual wealth, such as having a good family life, he said.

"It's more than the magic of giving and God's going to bless you," Jakes said. "I'm not talking about getting rich. I talk to too many rich people who are suicidal."

Jakes said he has changed as a preacher through the years.

"It evolves every day," he said. "You tend to assume you understand God. We're learning more and more about God every day."

In this book, he touts transformation for every person, always making adjustments to improve and be more successful.

"Repositioning is about changing, the freedom to change and be who we need to be," Jakes said. "We're made to feel if we change anything you're not loyal."

Jakes said some of the most "effective people are those who reposition themselves" and cites Queen Latifah, who went from hip-hop artist to actress to cover girl, as an example.

"There may be more gifts in you than you experienced at 20, 30, 40 or 50," Jakes said. "You had better use the life span you have to its fullest potential. Don't be locked down to what you were 20 years ago. We change with time."

Much of his message involves reaction to adversity, and the importance of using faith to turn a bad situation to good, he said.

"There's a crucifixion before the resurrection," he said. "In my own life, some of the greatest successes came out of my greatest crises."

In school, Jakes was told by his teachers he could never be a public speaker because he talked with a lisp. They criticized his writing and singing voice. Now he's one of the most polished evangelists on television, a frequent presence on Black Entertainment Television and Trinity Broadcasting Network. So Jakes knows how to reposition.

"This book is not for wimps," Jakes said. "I'm not suggesting it's easy. Life is not easy."